Labour briefs

HALIFAX — Employers in Nova Scotia will be facing strict consequences if they put their workers at risk, according to the new penalty system proposed by the province’s labour minister.

On July 29, Frank Corbett, minister of labour and advanced education, announced a new penalty system that sees tougher fines for workplace safety infractions, as well as education and prevention programs for less serious offences. Corbett recommended the use of administrative penalties to discourage employers from breaking the labour code and health and safety practices. That means employers or workers found guilty of breaking safety laws will be subject to hefty fines — and even heftier for repeat offenders.

For smaller infractions, the province will pursue prevention and education programs, which Corbett said is high on the industry’s radar.

"They want us to focus more on prevention, while sending a clear message to employers that there is zero tolerance for rule breakers who risk the lives and health of workers, or who are repeat offenders," he added.

The move was lauded by the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour.

"Not only do we now have stronger workplace health and safety regulations and enforcement, but we also now have a strong emphasis on public education, which is key," said Rick Clarke, president of the federation.

The labour ministry is taking comments on the proposal until Sept. 26.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. — Thirteen of Canada’s premiers gathered in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. last week to discuss hotbed issues pertaining to the provinces and territories — and labour was high on the agenda.

Of particular concern is the Canada Job Grant, an initiative introduced in the federal government’s latest budget to have Ottawa and the provinces, as well as employers, earmark funding specifically for skills training and labour force development.

As a result, the premiers (known as the Council of the Federation) want an opt-out option, denouncing the plan as inflexible and costly.

The council said they are "concerned that the proposed changes would jeopardize the success of current training programs already in place, particularly those programs that help the most vulnerable people who need additional supports to find jobs…Furthermore, it is unclear if employers, particularly small businesses, will participate."

Should the program be implemented, the council added the job grant will remove all of the funding for labour market agreement programming, and could set individual provinces and territories back more than $600 million.

"Federal funding for skills training and labour market programs must be adequate, flexible, equitable, long-term, predictable and not mandate cost matching to ensure workers can access the labour force and employers can hire the workers they need," the council added.

A council report on those labour issues is slated for release later this fall.

VIA Rail workers on board with collective agreement

OTTAWA — VIA Rail employees have approved three new agreements, said the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union.

Members employed by VIA Rail approved new three-year agreements covering 2,100 staffers ranging from customer service representatives to train maintenance workers.

Because union members at VIA Rail all fall into one of three groups (off-board, station and phone service staff; on-board service staff; and shopcraft skilled trades maintenance), the three collective agreements were approved by a total of 86 per cent after negotiations concluded on June 13.

The agreements include wage increases, improved job security for part-time workers, the introduction of joint apprenticeship committees and maintenance of the defined benefit (DB) pension plan, the union said. A new job sharing program will allow employees to temporarily share a position or assignment, something the union said will help with work-life balance.

Ken Lewenza, CAW’s president, said the deal was a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.

"Negotiations cannot solve the problem of chronic underfunding of Canada’s transportation networks, such as VIA Rail," Lewenza said. "Government must step up to ensure that Canada has a viable national railway system that connects communities right across the country, instead of starving our national passenger rail. Canadians, including VIA Rail workers, are looking for leadership on this issue."

TORONTO — A new whistleblower program launched by Toronto’s transit service will help expose internal fraud — but the union leader who represents its workers has blasted the program.

An announcement from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) on July 22 revealed that it would be using a third-party service to set up a new whistleblower hotline that people can anonymously call to report instances of fraud, waste and theft.

While the TTC reports the program will help investigators follow-up on tips and ensure employees follow the rules, Bob Kinnear, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, said it fuels a culture of mistrust.

"During my 10 years as President of Local 113, I long ago lost track of the number of times I have said that the union does not in any way condone any illegal or unsafe acts by TTC workers. Our members understand that they work in a position of public trust and any alleged violation of that trust is subject to a disciplinary process in accordance with our collective agreement," Kinnear said. "My only concern with this new initiative is that it publicly promotes the idea that there is widespread fraud and theft on the part of TTC employees that has yet to be discovered. There is simply no evidence for this and how this is supposed to improve morale is beyond me."

The TTC’s whistleblower hotline is a pilot program that will run for one year.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A group of accessible transit drivers in Newfoundland and Labrador are celebrating after approving their first collective agreement.

The 35 GoBus drivers in the St. John’s area ratified a tentative agreement with their employer on July 18, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). That agreement also includes a wage increase of $2 per hour over three years.

"With this first collective agreement now resolved we are looking forward to a positive and productive relationship with the employer," said CUPE’s national representative, Ed White.

GoBus para-transit workers threatened to strike if a settlement could not be reached with their employer, MVT Canadian Bus, a private company contracted out by the city.

"MVT Canadian Bus is very pleased an agreement was reached with its dedicated operators represented by CUPE Local 5120 and, most importantly, that the critical St. John’s GoBus accessible transit service will continue without interruption," added Brian Balogh, senior vice president at MVT.